Behavior Quote by Richard Maxwell
“If you're looking for like, a pure base for your behavior on stage, maybe it's better to say, "Yeah, you're not obliged to pretend. But, you're also obliged to not pretend." So you have access to both sides, if you will. It's never a pure binary thing, but you can pretend. If you have total agency as a performer, then both are at your disposal.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 2018, theatre discussion
Performers can choose authenticity or artifice; both are tools, not opposites, requiring conscious balance.
In simple terms: Actors can be real or pretend, using both as needed.
Key Takeaway
Balance honesty and performance deliberately.
Themes
theatre
authenticity
choice
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- stage acting
- improv
- method acting
- directing
Key Concepts
identity
performance theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you choose authenticity over pretense?
- How does this choice affect audience connection?
A Different Perspective
Audience expectations may pressure performers toward one extreme.
